The Solar and Wind Expo arrives in Pennsylvania

The Solar and Wind Expo will make its Southeast Pennsylvania debut in less than two weeks with exhibits, informative seminars and lots of excitement about renewable energy!

Our indoor-outdoor consumer show is uniquely devoted to renewable energy and has been created to bring the manufacturer, installer, lender and consumer together under one roof. It’s all about saving energy, saving money, and being good to the Earth.

The Solar and Wind Expo in Pennsylvania will feature companies – many of them local –knowledgeable in renewable energy solutions. Experts in this evolving field will conduct free, informative educational seminars for Expo attendees on topics such as: Benefits of Switching to Renewable Energy, Financing Programs Available Right Now, Green Building Design, Energy Affordability, Wind Power 101, The Benefits of Weatherization, Geothermal 101, and more.

The Expo, at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pa., will run Saturday and Sunday, June 11 & 12, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily.

Our headline speaker, Pennsylvania State Representative Chris Ross (R-Chester), will discuss his initiatives to keep the solar energy industry strong in Pennsylvania including his recently introduced legislation (House Bill 1580, the Solar Jobs Bill). Rep. Ross, along with a bipartisan group of legislative co-sponsors developed the legislation to fix the crippled solar energy credits market in Pennsylvania. It is expected to create jobs, protect Pennsylvania’s businesses, and clean up the Commonwealth’s air and water.

Rep. Ross is an environmental champion for the state, having sponsored a recently enacted bill to mandate electronic equipment recycling, and having been appointed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to serve on the agency’s Local Government Advisory Committee. The 30-member committee provides advice to the EPA on environmental issues affecting communities.
Rep. Ross will precede the keynote address by Bob Dixson, mayor of Greensburg, Kansas, a town that chose to rebuild in a sustainable manner after devastation by a major tornado in 2007. His talk is timely given the recent tornado damage in Missouri and surrounding states. Mayor Dixson will address how Greensburg rebuilt and how that experience can be a blueprint for rebuilding in the Midwest.

Mayor Dixson is a native Kansan and he has been a resident of Greensburg since 1985. Dixson took office as Mayor of Greensburg in May 2008 and he is leading the way in the process of rebuilding the community after the May 4, 2007 tornado. Sustainable building, renewable energy and “green” technologies are the cornerstones of the recovery of Greensburg. Mayor Dixson retired from the US Postal Service after 26 years after serving as Postmaster of Greensburg for 16 years and Pratt, Kansas for 6 years. He served on the USD #422 School Board for 12 years and was President for eight years.
The Solar and Wind Expo in Maryland last month was a great success with several thousand people attending, most of them already well-informed on solar, geothermal and wind energy, and interested in making an investment now. We were delighted that Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley opened the Expo with his summit on renewable energy – bringing in an additional 500 people, many of them experts in the field, to the Expo for a lively roundtable discussion.

We know that the Expo in Pennsylvania will be a success too, bringing together those who want to make the change to renewable energy with those who have the know-how and technology to help do so.

Through our partnership with enerG magazine. enerG would like to offer you a complimentary 2-year subscription!

As a Media Partner for the Solar and Wind Expo, we hope you enjoyed the event!

Click here www.altenerG.com/subscribe/form/c2ysf/ to start receiving your complimentary subscription.

enerG, now heading into its 6^th year, is an exciting bi-monthly magazine that delivers the big picture and bright future of alternative energy in North America—be part of that future now! Reaching more than 24,000 decision-makers in energy and related businesses, enerG covers all areas of alternative energy, including wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and biofuels. 
Visit our website for more information: http://thesolarandwindexpo.com/Pennsylvania.html.

See you at the Expo. Let’s make Green a Reality!

THE SOLAR AND WIND EXPO: COMING TO THE PHILADELPHIA AREA IN JUNE

Renewable Energy Experts & Exhibits

The Solar and Wind Expo is coming to Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pa., on June 11 and 12. This indoor-outdoor consumer show is uniquely devoted to renewable energy and was created to bring the manufacturer, installer, lender and consumer together under one roof. It’s all about saving energy, saving money, and being good to the Earth.

The Solar and Wind Expo – Pennsylvania will feature companies knowledgeable in renewable energy solutions. Experts in this evolving field will conduct valuable educational seminars for Expo attendees on topics such as: Benefits of Switching to Renewable Energy, Electric Vehicles, Financing Programs Available Right Now, Green Building Design, Energy Affordability in a Time of Change, Wind Power 101, The Benefits of Weatherization, Geothermal 101, and more.

The keynote speaker at The Solar and Wind Expo – Pennsylvania is Bob Dixson, Mayor of Greensburg, Ks. In 2007, this Midwestern town was decimated by an F5 tornado. The Mayor and township decided to make the best of a terrible situation and rebuild using all renewable and alternative energy practices. The result was more than just LEED certification for a few buildings. Instead, the majority of the town’s structures were rebuilt to the LEED Platinum standard, the highest rating granted by the United States Green Building Council. As the first town in the country to go entirely green, Greensburg is a shining example of how becoming sustainable is both viable and economically beneficial.

“Never has there been a better time for this kind of show in Pennsylvania,” said George Lopez, executive director of The Solar and Wind Expo. “The technology is maturing and becoming more affordable and there is consumer interest in saving money and reducing the carbon footprint. Now is the time to make these investments, and the Valley Forge Convention Center on June 11 and 12 is the place to learn more.”

Expo hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 if purchased online. Children under 12 admitted free.

More information is available at thesolarandwindexpo.com/Pennsylvania.html

SOLAR AND WIND EXPO OFFERS ALTERNATIVE ENERGY EXHIBITS AND SEMINARS

Second Annual Expo brings consumers and experts together, May 13-15, Timonium Fairgrounds

Expo opens with Governor Martin O’Malley’s Energy Summit: A Roundtable on Maryland’s Energy Future

From Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s roundtable on the future of renewable energy in Maryland, to a keynote address on electric vehicles, to exhibits by national solar and wind energy companies to fun rides on all-electric Segways, there is something for everyone at the Second Annual Solar and Wind Expo, held May 13-15 at the Timonium Fairgrounds.

Governor O’Malley will open the Expo at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 13, with his energy summit, a review of strategies, and a discussion of industry trends and opportunities. The governor seeks public input on Maryland’s energy future as we continue to create a smarter, greener, more sustainable and prosperous Maryland.

 “The Solar and Wind Expo is a clearinghouse of information for the public on the latest news and information regarding green energy,” said Solar and Wind Expo Executive Director George Lopez. “This is the right time to bring consumers and experts together, given technology advancements and government financial incentives. There are affordable technologies on the market right now so we want to show the public that the time for these investment is now.”

Chelsea Sexton, the electric vehicle’s top advocate and star of the popular “Who Killed the Electric Car” documentary film, will present the keynote address on Saturday, May 14, at noon. She will update Expo attendees on the future of electric vehicles. Sexton is a veteran clean transportation and energy advocate. She has served as Director of the Automotive X PRIZE, Senior Advisor to VantagePoint Venture Partners’ Cleantech practice, and co-founder of Plug In America, the largest consumer-oriented electric drive advocacy group. She founded the Lightning Rod Foundation, an advisory and educational organization. Sexton is a Consulting Producer on Chris Paine’s just-released film, “Revenge of the Electric Car.”

Consumer seminar topics include topics such as:

·        Benefits of Switching to Renewable Energy

·        Solar, Wind and Geothermal Power and Why Now is the Time

·        The Consumer’s Checklist for Saving Energy and Sustaining our Environment

·        Financing Programs Available Right Now

·        Solar Purchasing Plans to Fit Your Budget

·        Benefits of Weatherization

·        Energy Efficiency/Clean Energy Quiz

·        Solar Water Heating: A Mature Technology with Enormous Potential

·        Community-Initiated Solar PV Systems Using a Power Purchase Agreement

·        Green Building Design

·        Design, Procure, and Construct an Innovative Renewable Energy System

The Expo will host seminars for renewable energy professionals on Friday, May 13.

The Solar and Wind Expo received accolades from Expo attendees and exhibitors in May 2010 when it brought top-quality clean energy advocates to consumers in the east coast region. This year’s Expo promises to do so again.

The Solar and Wind Expo’s hours are 9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Friday, May 13, and 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 14 & 15. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 if purchased online; children under 12 admitted free. Discounts are available online.

 
Information is available at www.thesolarandwindexpo.com.

Waiting For My Battery to Die

It’s a rainy Wednesday and thanks to some crazy driver last night, the entire peninsula is without power. This morning’s coffee fix had to come from Royal Farms Store about a mile away. That’s when I saw the handy work that destroyed the  portion of the grid that we all rely on this far down Mountain Road. A car or maybe a tank had taken out a perfectly upright street pole.
Now I am writing this piece before the laptop battery goes dead on me. Looking out of my window and reflecting on the importance of energy as the raindrops hit the calm waters of Bodkin Creek, it makes me appreciate the solitude that someone’s misfortune has brought to me and so many of my neighbors. Surely with the Solar and Wind Expo just 10 days away this isn’t the best time to sit idle reflecting on solitude. We need instead to get the banners finished and to the printer, the venue ready, and so on.

But my work is in clean renewable energy and that makes it impossible for me not to think about and to appreciate the importance of the grid and how we use and store power. From inside my cozy cottage I can hear the humming of my neighbors’ generators. These souls surely feel lucky to be able to have coffee and watch the talking heads speak about Bin Laden and Sheen on the same half hour show. But who am I to judge? I would probably be doing the same thing if I could.

The grid, we must admit, is a great thing and has been there for us for so many years, silently giving us so much comfort. The downside of grid power is not the grid’s fault; it is only composed of wires, wood and metal. All that it requires is that it remains continuous and full of electrons. The method of electron replenishment is of no consequence to it. Instead, it is up to us to make the proper choices about how we produce that power.

If I hear another proponent of Coal or Oil, and now the full of Gas bunch, talk about how we will never be able to have enough clean energy for everyone I swear I’ll hurl. They say that, but damn if they don’t keep trying to associate themselves with clean energy (“Clean” Coal, “Clean” Gas and “Clean” Fuels). It’s enough to confuse a perfectly sane individual; oh wait, that’s their plan.

Monday on one of the radio talk shows I heard a proponent of gasoline defend gas prices by saying that Americans are using more fuel in spite of gasoline prices. His case was that this is a sure sign that Americans aren’t bothered by fuel prices. Man, I wanted to throw the radio out of the car window, but that would have only given me temporary relief and no radio. He went on to say that if you don’t like the price of fuel then don’t use it. Like a bottle of Chablis or a steak dinner in your neighborhood restaurant, just don’t do it. Sorry, but fuel is essential. We have to drive and heat our homes.

We are using more fuel because we no longer have the luxury of working in a factory close to home or in a nearby office building. Every time a factory is closed and the work moved overseas we are forced to drive farther away from home to work. I come from the construction industry and I can tell you that my contractor friends have to drive further and further for work. Every time fuel prices go up we are forced to drive more and work more to have money left over just for survival. If you want prove that Americans are feeling the pinch, just ask the manager of Rocky Run Restaurant at Marley Station Mall who, after 20 years in business employing college kids, had to close the door of his restaurant because Americans are short of money for dining out because they have to pay more for fuel instead.

This is happening across all aspects of our economy. Everything essential to our lives is getting more and more expensive and some are choosing to just do without. And this spiral is continuing as the cost of fuel and energy becomes more and more expensive. This cycle is creating a twofold effect: a lower standard of living for Americans as they see more and more manufacturing jobs going overseas.

I think that the way to reverse things is to invest in our own well-being rather than depending on others. Energy efficiency will help tremendously. Insulating our homes and buying more efficient vehicles and appliances are a must as is not just buying American-branded goods but those actually made in America.

So, I come back to those essential electrons. We have to make our own energy while we still have the means to do so. Buy solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal – American-made when possible -- and don’t be dissuaded with promises of “clean” coal or gas. These resources will eventually be depleted or become expensive because of growing demand.

The legacy energy companies are quick to say that demand drives prices up. But the way I remember it is that the more I sell the more cheaply I can sell it. I guess they live in an alternative universe. We should remember that energy companies and fuel companies have become used to making huge profits from an essential resource that should belong to everyone or a least whose profits should be regulated. It’s not a lack of oil that has historically driven the prices up, but instead, it has been greed. Why else would they form a cartel to control supply.

I have to leave it here because my laptop is about to hybern……..

State policies key to clean energy development, report says

States’ policies are important to solar and wind energy development and in reducing energy use says a new report from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The findings are in report, State of the States 2010: The Role of Policy in Clean Energy Market Transformation.

“This report shows the importance of the state and local policy in encouraging clean energy market development,” said Mike Pacheco, NREL vice president of Deployment & Market Transformation. “Specifically, state policymakers may be more effective at driving clean energy investment using a suite of policies and keeping the policies in place longer.”

Building on an emerging body of literature identifying connections between state policy and renewable energy, the State of States 2010 report quantifies the connection between state clean energy policies, renewable energy development and actual reductions in energy use. . Renewable energy use increased 3 percent across the United States in 2010, the report says.

It is the first time energy efficiency has been considered in this type of analysis, and the report shows significant connections between reduced energy use and building codes, electricity prices and, in some cases, energy efficiency resource standards. Even though state policies might apply to a wide variety of renewable energy resources, the analysis shows that most often there’s a relationship between policy and solar and wind development. So, if states tailor policy to other resources, it might help increase development of renewable energy sources in addition to solar and wind.

“State policy efforts can help sustain the good work started by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act in creating economic development opportunities through clean energy,” said LeAnn M. Oliver, DOE Weatherization & Intergovernmental Program Manager. “State of the States 2010 offers practical information to policymakers on how to further promote those policies.”

To track the progress of the states and regions toward a clean energy economy, NREL also provided the analysis and findings for DOE’s 2009 U.S. State Clean Energy Data Book. The data book, published in October 2010, summarizes the status of state-level energy efficiency and renewable energy developments and supporting policy implementation, and can be accessed as a PDF and as an interactive data analysis tool. It identifies the states and regions leading in overall renewable energy capacity and energy efficiency policy. Key findings include:

• In 2009, Maine had the largest percentage—23 percent—of non-hydro renewable generation, mostly from bioenergy.
• Texas leads the country in total non-hydro installed renewable energy capacity.
• California is the leader in solar energy installed capacity.
• Oregon, California, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania have the strictest building codes, which require high efficiency in commercial and residential construction.

NREL provided the analysis for both the State of the States 2010 report and the U.S. State Clean Energy Data Book under its Clean Energy Policy Analyses project. To learn more about CEPA, visit www.nrel.gov/cepa.

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for DOE by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

Maryland Public Television launches MotorWeek Car Raffle

Owings Mills, MD— To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the award-winning weekly automotive TV series MotorWeek, Maryland Public Television (MPT) is raffling off a stunning 2011 Honda hybrid vehicle. One lucky winner of MPT’s MotorWeek Car Raffle will drive off with a brand-new eco-friendly 2011 Honda Hybrid, their choice of either the CR-Z Hybrid Sport Coupe or the Insight Hybrid 5-door.

“As we continue to celebrate 30 unforgettable seasons that have helped to make MotorWeek a household name for so many, we’re pleased to offer a lucky driver out there the chance to win their choice of two incredible Honda hybrid vehicles,” said John Davis, executive-producer and host of MotorWeek. “We hope this will ultimately get the community thinking about the significant environmental impact we can all make by taking steps to reduce our dependence on the pump.”

Each chance to win is only $50: Purchase tickets online or download a mail-in order form. A limited number of only 2,000 tickets are available for the raffle benefiting MPT’s local programming initiatives and outreach efforts through the MPT Foundation, Inc. The grand prize drawing will be held June 21, 2011. Entrants need not be present to win.

About the Honda Insight Hybrid 5-door: The 2011 Insight’s sleek and sophisticated design makes this car one of the most aerodynamic hybrids on the market today. The front of the car is strong and lean with eye-catching projector-beam headlights. A highly efficient, 1.3-liter, 8-valve, i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine and DC-brushless 13 kilowatt electric motor and continuously variable transmission (CVT) give the Insight plenty of zip. The taller rear helps this 5-door hybrid slip easily through the air, and unique LED brake lights complete the look. EPA: 40 mpg city/ 43 mpg highway. MSRP $18,950 with freight. Check out MotorWeek’s Road Test Review of the Insight.

About the Honda CR-Z Hybrid Sport Coupe: Continuing a long tradition of sporty two-seat coupes from Honda, the 2011 CR-Z Hybrid Sport Coupe-CVT provides an athletic and aggressive compact design with an expansive cargo area perfect for active lifestyles. Powered by a 1.5-liter i-VTEC® 4-cylinder engine with Integrated Motor Assist IMA® ,10-kilowatt electric motor and 100-volt battery pack the CR-Z kicks out an impressive 122 horsepower while maximizing fuel economy. EPA: 31 mpg city/ 37 mpg highway. MSRP $20,745 with freight. Check out MotorWeek’s Road Test Review of the CR-Z.

All raffle proceeds support Maryland Public Television (MPT), through the MPT Foundation, Inc., a registered 501(c) (3) charitable organization, organized to support MPT’s mission, noncommercial programming and community outreach activities. Read the complete rules. Details: www.mpt.org/raffle. Watch a promo on YouTube.

For more information on MPT, visit mpt.org and the MPT pressroom.

THE SOLAR AND WIND EXPO: PENNSYLVANIA SET TO OPEN IN JUNE

The Solar and Wind Expo is coming to Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pa., on June 11 and 12. This Maryland-based indoor-outdoor consumer show is uniquely devoted to renewable energy and energy savings and was created to bring the manufacturer, installer, lender and consumer together under one roof. Extending the Expo to the Philadelphia area will reach more consumers in the region and give added exposure to local renewable energy businesses.


"The Philadelphia area's use and knowledge of renewable energy solutions is exemplary. After last year's success of the Solar and Wind Expo: Maryland, we were compelled by consumer demand to identify a second location,” said George Lopez, founder and executive director of Expo. "Bringing The Solar and Wind Expo to the Philadelphia area made the most sense from a renewable energy consumer perspective."

The keynote speaker at The Solar and Wind Expo Pennsylvania is Bob Dixson, Mayor of Greensburg, Ks. In 2007, this Midwestern town was decimated by an F5 tornado. The Mayor and township decided to make the best of a terrible situation and rebuild using all renewable and alternative energy practices. This resulted in more than LEED certification for a few buildings. Instead, but the majority of the town’s structures are now LEED Platinum, the highest rating granted by the United States Green Building Council.

Greensburg, the first city in the country to go entirely green, is a shining example of how becoming sustainable is both viable and economically beneficial. Mayor Dixson's presentation inspired last year's Maryland Expo attendees to make their own switch to renewable energy.

The Solar and Wind Expo: Pennsylvania also will feature respected companies and vendors knowledgeable in renewable energy solutions. Experts in this evolving field will conduct valuable educational seminars for Expo attendees.

“Never has there been a better time for this kind of show in Pennsylvania,” declares Lopez. “With all the continuing technological advances, government-sponsored incentives and so much interest on the part of many to save money on energy and reduce their carbon footprint, we created a place for all to connect and learn ... the Valley Forge Convention Center June 11 and 12!”

More information is available at thesolarandwindexpo.com/Pennsylvania.html